Lena River bridge tender launched—but can Yakutia meet Putin's 2028 deadline?

A tender has been announced for the preparation of the construction site for the Lena River bridge in Yakutia. The project, ordered by President Vladimir Putin, aims to complete the bridge by 2028. However, the feasibility of this deadline is already under debate. VIS has launched the tender on Sberbank’s procurement platform. The starting price is set at 225,873,678 rubles, with the scope covering backfilling and compaction of the base layer for Technological Site No. 1. Bids must be submitted by November 20, 2023, and the final tender cost may drop after evaluation.

President Putin’s instructions, approved on November 7, prioritise the automotive bridge crossing near Yakutsk as the first and most critical task. A separate deadline of March 2024 is in place for developing decisions that could keep the 2028 completion target on track.

Despite the official timeline, uncertainty surrounds the project. Vitaly Obedin, head of Yakutia’s Party of Action branch, doubts the bridge will be finished by 2028. Vladimir Fyodorov, a prominent Yakutian politician, has also questioned the prospects of the bridge and suggested exploring alternative solutions. The tender process is now underway, with a clear starting price and submission deadline. The project’s future depends on upcoming decisions and the ability to meet the tight schedule. Politicians continue to voice concerns about the feasibility of the 2028 target.